AN NHS trust in the region has pledged to value the work of family and friends caring for people who use its services. Health Reporter Helen Rae explains.

THE region’s mental health and learning disability trust has signed a partnership agreement with carers of people using its services.

The Carers’ Charter was drawn up by carers across the North East.

It was signed by representatives of Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust at a special conference at St James’s Park, in Newcastle.

In the document — which defines a carer as someone who provides help or support to a relative, partner or friend — the trust pledges to value the work of family and friends caring for people who use its services.

The charter lists a series of principles about how people should be recognised and valued, kept informed and advised, and involved in the care and treatment of the person they look after.

It highlights the importance of involving carers in the planning, development and evaluation of services provided by the trust and the need to help guide and support. There is also a promise to develop a trust-wide strategy to involve youngsters who look after someone.

Acting chief executive Dr Andrew Fairbairn said: “The trust greatly values the work carried out by carers of people using our services and wants to work in partnership with them to ensure we carry out our role more effectively and work more efficiently.

“That is why we are committed to the principles outlined in the Carers’ Charter which is based on involvement with carers across the area we serve.

“But it’s about action, not just words. The trust will be drawing up and implementing a plan to make sure that what we have agreed to in the charter actually becomes a reality. Then we will review our progress after 12 months.”

The trust has an annual budget of more than £280m and provides a range of mental health, disability and substance misuse services to about 1.4m people living in the North East, as well as a number of regional and national specialist services.

It is one of the largest trusts of its kind in England and employs more than 7,000 staff, working from over 150 sites as well as providing care to people in their own homes.

It supports people in the communities of Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and parts of North Easington.